Loose-leaf binder



. Apr. 10, 1 923,- 1,451,273

"H, RUBIN- LOOSE LEAR BINDER Filed Apr. 15, 1922 '2 -l r 1" l5 e I WWI" llllfliv'" Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

HERMAN RUBIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOOSE-LEAF, BINDER.

Application filed April 15, 1922. Serial No. 552,994. I

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN RUBIN, a

citizen of the United States of America, residing at NewYork, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the followplns may in well known manner telescopiing is a specification.

The present invention relates to loose leaf in binders and more particularly to the adjustable backs of large size ledgers or] other account books having loose leaf retaining members.

The object of this invention is to provide such adjustable back with locking means which will efiectively hold the back in its adjusted position and which through a simple manipulation can be released to permit it to expand.

Ordinary expandible or adjustable backs of loose leaf books are locked in adjusted position by screws or the like. This has been found objectionable because a special key is required to loosen the screws and the manipulation is more or less tedious.

My invention will be fully and clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts and in which F l is a perspective plan view of a loose leaf book equipped with my improved back; Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of my new back; Fig. 4: is a section on line 33 of Fig. 8, and-Fig. 5 is a detail.

In the drawing 10 denotes the covers of a ledger or any other book and 11 denotes my new back therefor. This back is made in form of a U-shaped metal frame composed of two L-shaped longitudinal sections 11, 11 so disposed relative to one another that their vertical sides are adjacent and parallel to one another and their horizontal sides are superposed. The front longitudinal edges of the said horizontal sides are slightly cut away at their ends as at 11 and the parts intermediate said ends are curved to form tubular sockets 11". The

covers 10 may be formed with or have suit-.

ably attached to them tubular sockets or eyelets 10 adapted to fit in the cut-out portion 11 of the edges of the sections and to be in alinement with the sockets 11 so that pins 12 may be passed therethrough to form hinges (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2).

The horizontal sides of the L-shapedmembers 11, 11 carry a number of looseleaf' retaining members arranged crosswise to said frame 11. a number of pins or rods 13 and sleeves or tubes 14 fixed alternately to the opposite horizontal sides of the section so that j the cally engage said sleeves and facilitate their engagement with the slotted perforations of loose leaves a. v 1

In the present embodiment, the rods or pins 13 are "also-made hollow or tubular to receive springsl5 which are adapted to act" against the outer sleeves 14. tending nor mally to expand said quently the sections 11', 11

Fixed to the inner face of the vertical side of one of the sections, as 11, is a vertically extending rack 16 having ratchet teeth and ivotally suspended at 17 from the inner f zi other section, 11 is a lever 17 formed with a tooth 17 and adapted to cooperate with said rack as a pawl. The pawl 17 is actuated by a plate spring 18 fixed to section 11 so as to normally hold said pawl in engagement with the rack. The rack and pawl are enclosed in a fiat casing 19 fixed to the section carrying the rack and in the top of which an opening 19' is provided through which the pawl 17 can freely extend downwardly and swing on its pivot 17 Through another opening 19 of said casing projects inwardly into the latter one end of a rod 20 which is suitably guided longitudinally along the vertical wall of section 11' and which at its other end projects outwardly from the frame '11 and is formed to a handle or grasp 20 The inner end of said rod is bent to form a vertical extend adjacent head piece 20 adapted to to a longitudinal shoulder 17 provided on the pawl 17.

The pawl 17 when engaging one of the ratchet teeth of the rack 16- will lock the two sections 11, 11 of the back and also the telescoping members 13, 14. in contracted position, holding the leaves or sheets a of the book compressed. When it is desired to remove a sheet or insert a new sheet the rod 20 is pushed inwardly,. whereby its head piece 20 will be caused to swing the pawl 17 on its pivot 17 away from the rack 16 unlocking the sections and permit- These members consist of members and conse cc of the horizontal sideof the v Ill) ting the same under the action of the coils 15 to instantaneously expand.

To close the ends of the frame, I provide vertical plate members 21, 22 at each end thereof which may be either integral with or suitably attached to the horizontal sides of the sections 11, 11 and which are adapted to slidably engage one another. One of the members at one end of the frame may be formed with a hole 23 for guiding the outer end of the rod 20. i

The upper ends of the plate members 22 are bent to form hooks 22 while theineinbers 21 are longitudinally recessed as at 21 so as to engage said hooks 22. WVhen the sections through the manipulation of the rod 20 are unlocked and by the springs l5 thrust into expanded positionthe hooks 22 t engage the lower edges of the slots 21 formmodifications may ing' safety stops to hold the sections. from becoming separated.

It is, of course, understood that various be made in the construction of. the device without departing from the principle of my invention. 1, therefore,

do not wish to restrict myself to the details shown and described.

What I claim is A loose leaf binder comprising a sectional transversely expandible frame, telescoping sheet retaining spring-actuated members carried by the sections of said frame, a rack formed with ratchet teeth on one of the sections of said frame, a casing fixed to said section to envelop said rack, a spring-actuated pawl pivotally suspended from the other section to cooperate with said ratchet and a rod extending through said casing and outwardly from said frame and formed at its inner end with a shoulder capable of engaging said pawl when moved inwardly to thrust said pawl away from said'rack and permit the sections of said frame and said members to instantaneously expand.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN RUBIN. Witnesses:

MAX D. ORDMANN. Josnrn T. MOMAHON. 

